Damping device for movable furniture parts

ABSTRACT

A damping device ( 14 ) for movable furniture parts comprising a fluid damper which is in the form of a rotational damper ( 20 ) and which includes two members which are rotatably movable relative to each other, namely a housing and a drum disposed in the housing. A damping fluid, for example a silicone oil, is disposed in the housing. During the damping action one of the two members is rotated by an actuating member and the other member is held fast. The rotational damper ( 20 ) is radially displaceably mounted and during the damping action is pressed by the actuating member against a retaining element ( 17 ).

[0001] The invention relates to a damping device for movable furniture parts comprising a fluid damper which is in the form of a rotational damper and which is radially displaceably supported and which includes two members which are rotatably movable relative to each other, namely a housing and a drum disposed in the housing, wherein disposed in the housing is a damping fluid, for example a silicone oil, and during damping one of the two members is rotated by an actuating member and the other member is held fast.

[0002] Damping devices of that kind are used in modern articles of furniture so that, when closing a door or a drawer, the door or a front panel of the drawer is prevented from hitting against the body of the article of furniture with excessive force.

[0003] Advantageously damping devices of that kind are provided with a freewheel so that they move unimpededly into their readiness position when the door or the drawer is opened.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a damping device of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification with an improved and structurally simple freewheel arrangement.

[0005] The object in accordance with the invention is attained in that the rotational damper is pressed against a retaining element by the actuating member during the damping action.

[0006] It is advantageously provided that the drum is in the form of a rotor which in the damping action is rotated by the actuating member and that the housing is held by the retaining element.

[0007] The retained member can advantageously be held by frictional engagement or by a directional tooth locking means.

[0008] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the rotational damper is mounted pivotably by means of a rocker member fixed to a carrier.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the rotational damper is mounted with a mounting axis in at least one and preferably two mutually opposite inclined elongate holes in a carrier.

[0010] In order to ensure also in the case of a drawer or door which is closed very slowly that the damping action of the damping device does not nullify the action of the device pulling the drawer or door shut so that the door or drawer would not be completely closed, a further preferred embodiment of the invention has a spring which lifts the rotational damper or the member of the rotational damper which is retained during the damping action off the retaining element.

[0011] Various embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings.

[0012]FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of a pull out guide assembly for a drawer, equipped with a damping device according to the invention during the closing movement,

[0013]FIG. 2 shows the same side view as in FIG. 1 during the opening movement,

[0014]FIG. 3 shows a side view of a pull out guide assembly, equipped with a damping device according to the invention in a further embodiment, during closure of the drawer,

[0015]FIG. 4 shows the same side view as that of FIG. 3 during opening of the drawer,

[0016]FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along line A-A in FIG. 3,

[0017]FIG. 6 shows a side view of a pull out guide assembly, equipped with a further embodiment of the damping device according to the invention, during closure of the drawer,

[0018]FIG. 7 shows the same view as that in FIG. 6 during opening of the drawer,

[0019]FIG. 8 shows a side view of a pull out guide assembly for a drawer, equipped with a further embodiment of the damping device according to the invention during closure of the drawer,

[0020]FIG. 9 shows the same side view as in FIG. 8 during opening of the drawer, and

[0021]FIG. 10 is a view in section taken along line A-A in FIG. 8.

[0022] Drawers are guided slidably in a body 1 of an article of furniture with side walls 1, by means of pull out guide assemblies. The drawers have at each of their two sides respective drawer side walls 3 which cover the rails 4, 5, 6 of the pull out guide assembly as far as the fixing limb 4′ of the support rails 4. The drawer side walls 3 likewise covers the damping device 14 according to the invention.

[0023] Fixed on the pull out rail 6 is a carrier 7 of the damping device 14, which carries a rotational damper 20. A pinion 10 is mounted on the spindle of the rotational damper 20.

[0024] The carrier 7 is provided with a groove 15 in which a slider 8 is horizontally slidably mounted. The slider 8 has a rack profile 16 meshing with the pinion 10. A tension spring 12 is fixed on the one hand to the slider 8 and on the other hand to the carrier 7.

[0025] The slider 8 further has a slider abutment 9 which projects through a slot in the pull out rail 6. provided on the support rail 4 is an abutment 11 at the body side, for the slider 8.

[0026] When a drawer 2 is opened, the tension spring 12 pulls the slider 8 into the damping position. When now the drawer 2 is closed the slider abutment 9 strikes against the abutment 11 at the body side, whereupon no further relative movement occurs between the slider 8 and the body rail 4. The pull out rail 6 however is moved further rearwardly together with the housing 7 and thereby the pinion 10 which rolls against the rack profile 16 is rotated and the rotational damper 20 supported on the carrier 7 comes into action.

[0027] When the drawer 2 is opened the slider 8 is moved by the tension spring 12 into the initial position again, that is to say into the damping position.

[0028] Disposed in the carrier 7 at the side which is towards the front panel member 2 of the drawer, is a retaining element 17 which for example is formed from a rubber or a plastic material involving a high degree of friction.

[0029] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the rotational damper 20 is mounted slidably with the pinion 10 in longitudinal slots 13 in the carrier 7.

[0030] The longitudinal slots 13 are oriented inclinedly upwardly in a direction towards the front panel member 2 of the drawer and lie in the resultant of the forces which act in the damping operation on the rotational damper 20. The rotational damper 20 is therefore pressed with a sufficient force against the retaining element 17.

[0031] When the drawer 2 is closed, after the abutment 9 of the slider 8 has hit against the abutment 11 at the body side, then as stated above relative movement occurs between the carrier 7 and the slider 8. By virtue of that relative movement, the rotational damper 20 is urged against the retaining element 17 and thereby the housing of the rotational damper 20 is held non-rotatably in the housing 7 by the retaining element 17. In other words, the pinion 10 rotates the rotational piston disposed in the housing of the rotational damper 20 and the damping device 14 is in action.

[0032] When in contrast the drawer 2 is opened the rotational damper 20 slides in the elongate holes 30, as shown in FIG. 2, downwardly and thus rearwardly relative to the carrier 7. The housing of the rotational damper 20 is thus disposed at a spacing from the retaining element 17 and the entire rotational damper 20 is rotated with its housing when the relative movement occurs between the slider 8 and the pinion 10. No damping or braking action takes place.

[0033] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 10 the rotational damper 20 is mounted on the carrier 7 by means of a rocker member 21. The rocker member 21 is tiltable about an axis 18. The axis 18, by means of which the rocker member 21 is supported on the carrier 7, is set back in relation to the depth of the article of furniture, in relation to the spindle 19 by means of which the rotational damper 20 is mounted with the pinion 10 on the rocker member 21.

[0034] When unloaded therefore the rocker member 21 with the rotational damper 20 will assume the position shown in FIG. 4, that is to say the housing of the rotational damper 20 is disposed at a spacing from the retaining element 17. However, as soon as the abutment 9 of the slider 8 hits against the abutment 11 at the body side upon closure of the drawer 2, a relative movement again occurs between the slider 8 and the carrier 7 and the rocker member 21 is urged with the rotational damper 20 in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 3 against the retaining element 17, whereby the housing of the rotational damper 20 is held non-rotatably and the damping action of the rotational damper 20 comes into effect. The rotational damper 20 is moved upon movement of the rocker member 21 in approximately parallel relationship with the direction of movement of the slider 8.

[0035] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 the retaining element 17 is a rubber or plastic member which holds the housing of the rotational damper 20 by frictional engagement.

[0036] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the retaining element 17 and the housing of the rotational damper 20 are provided with a directional tooth locking means 23. The function of the damping device 14 is the same as in the above-described embodiment. The housing of the rotational damper 20 is held fast by the retaining element 17, by means of the directional tooth locking means 23, instead of by frictional engagement.

[0037] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, a spring 22 which is in the form of a leg spring is mounted on the carrier 7 and urges the rocker member 21 in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 9, in other words, if no or only a slight pressure is applied to the pinion 10 by the slider 8, the rocker member 21 is urged in the direction of the arrow B by the spring 22 and the housing of the rotational damper 20 is certain to be moved away from the retaining element 17 so that the drawer can move into the closed position unimpeded by the damping device 14.

[0038] What is common to all embodiments is that the pinion 10 of the rotational damper 20 and the rack profile of the actuating member are constantly in engagement with each other.

[0039] The pull out guide assembly according to the invention is preferably provided with a drawer retraction device as is described for example in EP 0 391 221 B1. In that case the spring of the drawer retraction device must be stronger than the tension spring 12 so that the drawer 2 is certain to be closed. 

1. A damping device for movable furniture parts comprising a fluid damper which is in the form of a rotational damper and which is radially displaceably supported and which includes two members which are rotatably movable relative to each other, namely a housing and a drum disposed in the housing, wherein disposed in the housing is a damping fluid and during damping one of the two members is rotated by an actuating member and the other member is held fast, characterised in that the rotational damper (20) is pressed against a retaining element (17) by the actuating member during the damping action.
 2. A damping device according to claim 1 characterised in that the drum is in the form of a rotor which is rotated in the damping action by the actuating member and that the housing is held by the retaining element (17).
 3. A damping device according to claim 1 characterised in that the retaining element (17) is in the form of a holding jaw which bears against the surface of the retained member.
 4. A damping device according to claim 3 characterised in that the retaining element (17) which is in the form of the holding jaw embraces approximately a quarter of the periphery of the retained member.
 5. A damping device according to claim 1 characterised in that the retained member is held by the retaining element (17) by frictional engagement.
 6. A damping device according to claim 1 characterised in that the retained member is provided with directional tooth locking means (23).
 7. A damping device according to claim 1 characterised in that the rotational damper (20) is mounted pivotably by means of a rocker member (21) fixed to a carrier (7).
 8. A damping device according to claim 7 characterised in that a mounting spindle (19) of the rotational damper (20) on the rocker member (21) is positioned in the axis of rotation of the rotational damper (20).
 9. A damping device according to claim 1 characterised in that the rotational damper (20) is mounted with a mounting spindle in at least one and preferably two mutually oppositely disposed inclined elongate holes (13) in a carrier (7).
 10. A damping device according to claim 1 characterised by a spring (22) which lifts the rotational damper (20) off the retaining element (17).
 11. A damping device according to claim 1 characterised in that the rotational damper (20) is mounted on a pull out rail (6) of a pull out guide assembly for drawers and has a pinion (10) meshing with a rack profile (16) of the actuating member which is in the form of a slider (8) displaceable relative to the pull out rail (6), the drawer side wall (3) and a support rail (4) at a body side of a piece of furniture, wherein there is provided an abutment (11) for the actuating member, the abutment being disposed at the body side.
 12. A damping device according to claim 11 characterised in that the pull out rail (6) and the rotational damper (20) are arranged within the drawer side wall (3).
 13. A damping device according to claim 11 characterised in that the rotational damper (20) is mounted in a housing (7) fixed to the pull out rail (6) or the drawer cover member (3).
 14. A damping device according to claim 11 characterised in that the slider (8) is acted upon by a spring.
 15. A damping device according to claim 11 characterised in that the slider (8) is mounted slidably in the housing (7).
 16. A damping device according to claim 14 characterised in that the spring is a tension spring (12) anchored to the slider (8) and to the housing (7).
 17. A damping device according to claim 11 characterised in that the pinion (10) of the rotational damper (20) and the rack profile (16) of the actuating member are constantly in engagement with each other.
 18. A damping device according to claim 7 characterised in that the rotational damper (20) is movable at least approximately in parallel relationship with the direction of movement of the actuating member.
 19. A damping device according to claim 1, characterised in that the damping fluid is a silicone oil.
 20. A damping device according to claim 3, characterised in that the retained member is the housing.
 21. A damping device according to claim 20, characterised in that the housing of the rotational damper (20) is provided with directional tooth locking elements (23).
 22. A damping device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rotational damper is mounted to a drawer side wall (3).
 23. A damping device according to claim 1, characterised in that there is provided an abutment (11) for the actuating member, the abutment being disposed at the support rail (4). 